Quick Tips
- To avoid the crowds look for obscure and out the way areas that may have been overlooked by other hunters or difficult to access
- Average age of animals will be very low and trophy animals will be rare
- Great fishing found on Whitetail Lake
- Tire chains recommended with the elevation of this hunting district
| species | general Size | trophy potential |
|---|---|---|
| Mule Deer | 120"-130" | 150"+ |
| Whitetail Deer | N/A | 120"+ |
| Elk | 260"-280" | 320"+ |
On The Ground
This hunting district is found in southwest Montana and just northeast of the town of Butte. Hunters will experience plenty of competition. The average age class for most of all animals in this area will be very low, but harvest rates are better than most surrounding districts. Hunters looking for trophy quality animals should be looking into adjoining districts. This area is very densely forested with the only real open ground found on the fringes of the district boundaries in the lower elevations.
This area consistently sees high numbers of hunters throughout the season. This can be a great area for those willing to hike in a few miles as you will mostly have the woods to yourself. Age class of bucks or bulls is way down so don’t expect to come out with a mature trophy, but if filling the freezer is your goal this is a great area to consider.
Terrain
The overall terrain of the area will remain largely mountainous throughout the entirety. Along the western border some small strips of agricultural developments are visible in the form of CRP fields while a fringe on the eastern border will comprise of open hills covered in sage and juniper. In the middle of the district is Whitetail Reservoir which does offer good fishing. Throughout the thickly covered ridges hunters will also encounter sporadic meadows which will remain lush throughout the year and can be great starting points for locating game.
Roughly 352 square miles
82.9% public land
Elevations from 5,000–8,700 feet
Vegetation
This area, like most other hunting districts found on the western half of the state, will be largely dominated by coniferous trees. Mature stands of tamarack, lodgepole, spruce, Douglas fir and subalpine fir will be in abundance in the high country. As the elevation is decreased look for ponderosa pine to become apparent as well as some scattered cottonwood, mountain maple and alder brush patches in moist areas. Throughout much of the area meadows can be found filled with natural grasses and leafy plants. In the southeastern corner of the hunting districts large expanses of natural grass, sage and juniper can be found.
Access
Most of this district is comprised with publicly accessible land for anyone to hunt. Many roads exist in the area yet secluded and roadless places are still available hunt. Look for the area to draw heavy crowds with its close proximity to Butte, but expect that a large portion of the crowd will never see land further than a mile from any road. Travel can be difficult during periods of snow due to the elevations so proper precautions should be taken.
Main roads of access will include Interstate 15, Whitetail Road, Interstate 90, Delmoe Lake Road and Hay Canyon Road
Hunter numbers will be very high is easily accessible areas
Focus on primarily roadless or restricted access areas at least a mile off main roads
Camping and Lodging
There are many lodging options found in this district from primitive camping to hotels. Thankfully, modern lodging can be found in Boulder on the northern end of the district as well as Whitehall and Butte on the southern end giving traveling hunters lots of options. Primitive camping is permitted on public lands for up to 14 days. Groceries and gear can be purchased in all of the towns, but Butte will have the best selections. The closest sporting goods stores are found in Butte and should meet 90% of gear needs.
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